army to go against the Cotawpes, Cherokees and other southern Indians. A
large army was collected, and after a long and fatiguing march, met its
enemies in what was then called the "low, dark and bloody lands," near the
mouth of Red River, in what is now called the state of Kentucky.
[Footnote: Those powerful armies met near the place that is now called
Clarksville, which is situated at the fork where Red River joins the
Cumberland, a few miles above the line between Kentucky and Tennessee.]
The Cotawpes [Footnote: The Author acknowledges himself unacquainted, from
Indian history, with a nation of this name; but as 90 years have elapsed
since the date of this occurrence, it is highly probable that such a
nation did exist, and that it was absolutely exterminated at that eventful
period.] and their associates, had, by some means, been apprized of their
approach, and lay in ambush to take them at once, when they should come
within their reach, and destroy the whole army. The northern Indians, with
their usual sagacity, discovered the situation of their enemies, rushed
upon the ambuscade and massacred 1200 on the spot. The battle continued
for two days and two nights, with the utmost severity, in which the
northern Indians were victorious, and so far succeeded in destroying the
Cotawpes that they at that time ceased to be a nation. The victors
suffered an immense loss in killed; but gained the hunting ground, which
was their grand object, though the Cherokees would not give it up in a
treaty, or consent to make peace. Bows and arrows, at that time were in
general use, though a few guns were employed.

From that time he was engaged in a number of battles in which Indians only
were engaged, and that made fighting his business, till the commencement
of the French war. In those battles he took a number of Indians prisoners,
whom he killed by tying them to trees and then setting small Indian boys
to shooting at them with arrows, till death finished the misery of the
sufferers; a process that frequently took two days for its completion!